Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-26

NerS'' OF this date opens an article with the
following "Norlolk's Future-Our City
Moving Rapidly Forward-To be Great
Commercial Centre-An Enthusiastic, but
Materially Considered View of the Ques-
ton."
By the last census the population of Nor
folk was put at about 2l,0O0. II 1910, II
years ago. it was nearly half that number,
showing an increase in three,fourths of a
century of e little over 10000 Yet away
back before the war Of 1912, we are told
Norfolk monopolized almost all the trade
n the British West Indies. which wss q
source of much profit to her merchants.
Large quantities of naval stores are annual
ly shipped from thie port to Europe, the
West Indies and South America. 1t is al
ready an extensive cotton market, and des-
tined TO deal in that article 10 still greater
extent. 1t is the great commercial depot OF
Virginia Its harbor is surpassed by none
in The world" A few years later it was
said The advantages 1t possesses have
attracted the attention OF the general gov
ernment, which has expended immense
sums here, for objects euited to the great na-
gal depot Of this Union"
L
citizens has been, "The national advantages
of Norfolk are such that she is destined to
be the great commercial mart Of the coun-
try.n With wistfu eyes and longing ex-
pectations generation after generation has
come. spent its allotted time in ingorioUs
ease, and passed away, with their grand pic
lures of rising glory still hanging behind the
veil of the distant future. Whenever rail
road heads this way her enthusiastic editors
raise cry of exuitation and proclaim that
Norfolk will soon be booming. But when
the road is built and people come, find moth
ing here they want and go on to the North,
they curse the railroad and beg somebody
else to build another road Our people
have aince the war loaded two banks so
heavily with funds that they have broken
and sunk millions of dollars, which, had it
been expended in manufactures, dry-docks,
vessels, &C., would have indeed given
boom to Norfolk. But her native sons seem
averse TO doing anything for the city.
Messrs. Mccullough, Lowenburg, Van
Wyck, Roper, Stevens, Dodson and few
others not now recalled, with four or five
railroad and steamboat companies, aliens all
have done more to build up and beautify
Norfolk than all her native citizens COM
bined.
Northern capitalists and sightseers, daily
visiting the city, are struck with the activi-
ty and business rush Oh Water and Main
Streets and would be impressed with the
idea that Norfolk, above all other points,
presents the greatest inducements for in
vestment of capital But alas short ex
cursion into the heart of the city discloses
sad and humiliating spectacle-streets,
crooked, muddy, or paved with huge and
q
horse and buggy, in places, can't be turned
around confronts them on every hand.
Several Of the most conspicuous and impor
tant thoroughferes, such as Bank, Butte,
Cumberland, Freemason, CRANKY, Holt and
Washington streets, are obstructed by IN
surmountable barriers. The last two, ap-
preaching each other on a direct line, in
the very heart of the city, are separated by
block of buildings 800 yards III extent, re
ouiring circuit OF 400 yards to gain the
opposite line. This most unnatural, iucon-
venient aud mortifying obstruction is at the
great religious centre of the city, and through
it would be the great central thorougfare,
from the western boundary 10 Brambleton,
the great highway 10 churches Of all
denominations and the avenue to the
most important schools and colleges.
For its immediate removal, g peti tion, sign
ed by hundreds of our leading and wealth
lest citizens, lies before our city fathers,
while they are busying themselves to ex-
tend the city limits, forgetting they have
Sparta OF their own which sadly needs ador-
ing" In the meantime, railroad and steam
ship lines concentrating here are reaching
out into distant lands, while Norfolk is be.
coming more and more conspicuously,
every day, q mere way station upon the
great commercial arteries of the world. Is
it at all strange that capitalists desiring to
make investments. finding that our city
fathers have not sufficient faith 10 the fu
ture of their city to induce them to open
and improve its most important thorough
fares, should, with unutterable disgust, turn
their backs upon us, and HE away to their
Northern homes? Norfolk has reached a
eliminating crisis in her history, and we
pause to see if our counsellors, in whose
hands for the time being reposes her des.
tiny, shall prove themselves equal to the
emergency. HANOVER.